Kadena Base Turns Away BYD Cars at Its Gates

Kadena airbase in Okinawa barred BYD vehicles this week, and guards posted at the gates have been told to stop those cars, taxis and delivery vehicles and instruct drivers to turn around. Lieut Col Alli Stormer, spokesperson for the US air force 18th Wing, said the restriction covers all BYD models. "These vehicles present an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to our personnel and our mission," Stormer said.

The base sits on Japan's southern island and is the largest US air force facility in East Asia. It holds the Typhon missile system, which can fire Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600km, along with fighter aircraft, refuelling planes, and surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The Pentagon says Kadena would take a direct role in any crisis involving China, Russia or North Korea.

The sequence behind the ban runs through Washington's wider restrictions on Chinese technology. In June, the Pentagon placed BYD on a list of 188 Chinese firms it believes maintain ties to China's military, a step that drew a protest from Beijing. That list also names Nio, Alibaba and Baidu. In 2018, the US defence department prohibited the sale and use of Huawei and ZTE phones at military bases worldwide, citing security concerns. China barred some Tesla vehicles from government compounds in 2021 over camera concerns, then dropped that rule in 2024 after Tesla won backing from the country's top auto industry association.

American military officials have not named a specific threat tied to BYD. Yonhap, South Korea's news agency, reported that the concern centers on vehicle-mounted cameras, sensors and GPS devices. BYD has not publicly responded to the Kadena ban.

BYD passed Tesla as the largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025 and is expanding into foreign markets. It launched the Racco electric minicar in Japan in July, entering a market where domestic brands hold the larger share. The restrictions at Kadena took effect this week.